This book is a further addition to the plethora of titles available on the subject of parenting. In this case it has particular reference to the teenage years. Its subtitle is ‘How to reach angry, unmotivated teens with biblical counsel’; it is written to help those who live with or care for teenagers.
It is divided into three parts: what you must understand to connect with your teen; what you must do to help your teen; and, how to make the changes stick. It’s fairly obvious from the title that it has an American origin and some of the approaches and strategies suggested were not ones I could relate to readily. Also much of the material was quite complex and somewhat theoretical. All this might restrict the book to a limited readership in the UK. But the final part does give more practical help, with examples of situations that arise and how to deal with them.
The author conveys the importance of listening to and talking with our children, especially about their salvation. He acknowledges that ‘only the Holy Spirit can lead a young person to true repentance, grief over his sin, and a willingness to change. No parent or counsellor can produce these responses’.
